Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-26
A CALL FOR A HALT.
A Petition to the Legislative Assembly
Concerning H. b. No. IL.

This petition is signed by 100 of tn
leading business men OF Butte. includin
the most substantial and influential cit
zens Of the city. The petition EXPLAINS it
self in u~nmistakable language:
BUTTE Cry, NJ. T.. January "a, 1887.
To the Honorable the Council q md Hous
OF Representatives Of the Territory q
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.:
In the matter of H. B. No. 10 intro
duced by Representative White, If Dee
Lodge county, relating to "Variety Thee
tres, your petitioners desire respectful,
to represent:
First. That while they recognize tn. bill
to be in the interest o; morality anc
would, under ordinary circumstances, bf
favorable to its passage; yet there are il
dlcations that the evils complained of, 4
abated, would only tend to foster and er.
courage the growth OF other evils of still
greater magnitude.
Second. While variety theaters are Zee.
ognized to be Objectionable places oil re
sort, it is believed that the men who nov
patronize them would, if they were closed
up, spend their time and money in places
where the associations are far more i'm.
moral, and where the victims are night,
plundered by ''sure-thing men" and cor
rupted by open prostitution.
Third. That if the proprietors of the
variety theaters are to be denied the priv.
lege OF conducting the sale of liquors, in all
fairness and justice, the gambling houses
and other saloon interests should be sinh.
jected to similar restrictions by your hon.
orable body.
And we believe hat the expression Of
such a purpose by your honorable BODY
would Immediately array against the
present bill the influence and money of tho
men who have been chiefly instrumental in
seeking to foment this agitation to deprive
the vaudeville proprietors of priyileoes
which the said i~nstigators D them
selves to monopolize.
Fourth. That while some of the
names signed to the petition pre-
sented TO o are OF reputable and honest
men, whose Intentions are above reproach.
the lnstigators OF the movement do not be-
long to that class Of citizens who have ever
been or who ever intend to be ;dent;6ed
with the cause of public morality in th;s
city. al 'h's
fl1th. That it is possible to run a yar;e.
y theatre on a plan absolutely unobiec-
and that a sweeping law. such os
proposed, would work a hardship mon
deserving men and women. While pna
may be totally vicious in its ;nan.
ence and deserves to be summarily and
closed up, another condnctad
a different plan might not be omen ~
on the score OF immortality: vet
under the law proposed it's proprietors
would be equally liable to arrest and con-
Your petitioners. therefore, respectfn,,v
recommend that the grievances comnla;naS
OF De leit to the care OF the municipal gov.
ernments of this Territory. o'
We believe that the city charter Of R,++o
!9Ily empowers the city council to suner'
wise " and regulate public performances with.
p the city limits. and unless it is the intsn-
ion OF your honorable BODY to nass % ~en
law regulating the sale of liquors in All
'arts o. Montana, without prejudice or
3aartiaIity, we respectfully ask you to leave
ne control OF the variety theatres to thu
properly constituted municipal author;t;es
Vho can suit their repressive laws to the
,ary'ng exigencies OF the situation: and
ocn a course, we believe. will be followed
y the city autheritie, OF Butte; and vonr
'e%titieners will eve pray. 4 ''